Proofreading

Proofreading | The Symptoms

You've worked like a slave to get the document ready in English.

Now it's time for a fresh pair of eyes to give it the once over.

Proofreading will eliminate misspellings, typographical and punctuation errors.

Proofreading | The Diagnosis

Background - Proofreading

Documents for proofreading by the Language Doctor generally fall into one of two categories:

Documents that have been written in English by non-native authors
Documents that have been translated into English

The Language Doctor will carefully check that the document / translation is correct from a language and grammatical perspective, and that the actual message is communicated in the right way. The Language Doctor will also ensure that the document / translation is in line with your requirements in terms of internal language usage, tone and style, and that it is consistent throughout.

Language Verification

This can include:

Proofreading
Disambiguation (making the language more precise)
Eliminating SwEnglishness
Checking appropriate use of jargon (will the audience understand?)
Eliminating "buzz" words and expressions ("At this moment in time...", "Going forward..." )

Proofreading does not involve in-depth changes or fact checking. It is more about the process of reviewing the final draft of a piece of writing to ensure consistency and accuracy in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. Proofreading goes beyond spell check features and looks at anomalies, such as different language sets (e.g., American English versus British English), faulty assumptions about grammar and sentence structure, embedded information, and field-specific terminology.

Proofreading | The Treatment

Background - Proofreading

When you contact the Language Doctor please write a brief description of the purpose and mechanics of the document. This should include:

Date that the document is required
Audience - Internal (colleagues, co-workers), External (general public, customers, shareholders etc)
Profile of the audience (language ability, expert/novice, age demographic (if applicable) etc)
Overall purpose of the document (e.g., welcoming, informing, selling etc)

Contacting the Language Doctor

If you are new to the Language Doctor, please make contact, in the first instance, via the chat button in the bottom right hand corner of this web site.
If you are a returning customer on the AD HOC basis, please make contact via the following email: ld@languagedoctor.atlassian.net
If you are a returning customer on the RETAINER basis, please send an email to the email specified in your agreement. (If you are unsure about this, please use the chat button below and ask for a clarification.)

Document formats and video conferencing

Please send unlocked PowerPoint presentations.
Text content outside of PowerPoint should be sent in unlocked Word format (.pdf files should not be used)
For video consultations we use Microsoft Teams

Process - AD HOC basis

Once you have made contact regarding your assignment, the Language Doctor will respond as soon as possible.
For Proofreading assignments, a delivery date and time estimation for completion will be communicated.

Process - RETAINER basis

Once you have made contact regarding your assignment, the Language Doctor will respond within the timeframe detailed in your Service Level Agreement (SLA).
For Proofreading assignments, a delivery date and time estimation for completion will be communicated.